Music: Primer for Conductors

On the podium, all his movements are clipped and economical. Every
muscle is under rigid control. But the moment the music stops,
Conductor Igor Markevitch cuts loose. For quick relief from artistic
discipline, he unlimbers his tongue. Occasionally his cutting comments
have helped cost him a job. "Paris musicians," he announced, "are a
Mafia." Markevitch played several variations on the same theme, and was
forced to resign from Paris' Lamoureux Orchestra a year ago. Last week,
in Tel Aviv, where he appeared as guest conductor of the Israel
Philharmonic, he sounded off at the drop of a question. This time...